St. Expeditus: Patron Saint of Speedy Causes

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St. Expeditus:  Patron Saint of Speedy Causes The venerated image of St. Expeditus in  the Lipa Cathedral In the Metropolitan Cathedral of St. Sebastian in Lipa City is a venerated image of a young Roman Centurion saint named Expeditus. Every month of April, a nine day novena in his honor is held in the cathedral that culminates in the celebration of his feast day on the 19th of the month. Who is this saint whose intercession was also invoked in the Oratio Imperata  to avert a catastrophic eruption of Taal Volcano prepared by the Archdiocese of Lipa when the volcano exhibited extra-ordinary activity early  in January, 2020?  St. Expeditus could have found affinity with the Lipenos since the martyr shares a lot of commonality with St. Sebastian, the city’s patron. St. Expeditus, like St. Sebastian was also a young Roman soldier who converted to Christianity and was also martyred as a consequence, during the period of Diocletian persecution.  Hence, a devo...
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Homilies and Reflections: June 29, 2020. Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul (Cycle A) - Filipino

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Hunyo 29, 2020.  Dakilang Kapistahan nina San Pedro at San Pablo, Mga Apostol
Pagninilay sa Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon ayon kay San Mateo 16: 13-19

Iminumulat tayo ng mga pagbasa sa araw na ito ng Dakilang Kapistahan nina San Pedro at San Pablo na ang mga pagpapakasakit at pagsubok sa buhay na ito ay hindi maikukumpara sa luwalhating naghihintay sa mga taong mananatiling matatag sa kanilang pananampalataya at pagtupad sa misyong iniatas ni Hesus sa kanila. 

Ang ating pagpupumilit maging tapat kay Kristo at sa Kanyang mga turo ay susubukin ng iba’t ibang mga problema at paghihirap na ating daraanan.  Kung minsan pa, kung kalian ka nagpipilit na lumapit kay Kristo at gawin ang Kanyang kalooban, lalo naman yatang dumarami at tumitindi ang mga pagsubok na iyong kinakaharap.   Remember that following and remaining faithful to Jesus do not guarantee a worry-free life.   Kasama na natin ang pagsubok  sa hanggang huling hininga ng ating buhay. 

Ngunit palalakasin tayo ng ating pag-asa sa Diyos.  Ang ating pagkakilala sa Kaniya.  Sa kabila ng mga pagsubok, mananatili tayong masaya at maligaya, sa kabila ng kawalan, pupunuin tayo ng Panginoon, at sa kabila ng kaguluhan, tayo ay ipapanatag at bibigyang kapayapaan ng Diyos.  At ang mga bagay na ito, wala sa mga taong hindi nagtitiwala sa Kanya. 

Ang kanilang pagtaya at pagtitiwala na hindi sila iniwan ng Panginoon ang nagbigay lakas at katatagan ng loob kay San Pedro, kay San Pablo at sa lahat ng mga martir, sa nakalipas na dalawang libong taon, na harapin ang kanilang takot at ialay ang kanilang buhay para sa DIyos at sa Simbahan.  Dahil sa kanilang sakripisyo, ang simbahan ay nanatiling umiiral at matatag sa kabila ng paglipas ng maraming taon at ng mga pagsubok nitong pinagdaanan. 

May paalaala ang pagdiriwang ng dakilang kapistahan nina San Pedro at San Pablo sa bawat isa sa atin: Bahagi tayo ng Simbahang itinatag ni Kristo at ipinagkatiwala kay San Pedro. Gawin natin an gating katungkulan kung paano ito mapapanatili at mapapalago.  Amen. 


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